Portable vacuum cleaner



s Patented JulyV 27, 1937 UNITED sTATEsPATl-:NT OFFICE Application December 8o, 1985, serial No. `56,782 In Germany January 4, 1935` Claims. In the known vacuum cleaners that run upon two rear side `wheels and one central front wheel; which is usually oscillatable, the disadvantage is experienced` that when the vacuum cleaner is 5 standing upon a step it is `very liable to roll down oi the step accidentally, particularly if it receives a jerk` bya pull on the suction tube.

'I'he object of` this invention is to remedy ythis t defect in vacuum cleaners of the aforementioned 1Q i orsome similar construction, this result being obtained by fitting to thevacuum cleanercasing a locking appliance which enables the central running roller to be braked at `will or prevented `from rolling along 4the floor, and also, it may be, l5 from swinging to one side, this latter feature beying` for the `purpose of ensuring that the roller cannot escape from the action of the llocking means. `The braking ofl the roller prevents the y vacuum cleaner from rolling down a step or an 2,0 inclined surface, whereas when working on a level l oor the locking device is put out of operation.

, One form `of construction'of the invention is illustrated by way of example ing drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a partial under-side view of a vacuum cleaner casing equipped withthe locling appliance, and

` Figure 2 shows the said casing in side elevation.

i Near the front or suction `end of `the vacuum 30 cleaner casing a is mounted a `central wheel or roller c, which-"is oscillatable` about a vertical pivot b,`and towards the rear end of the vacuum cleaner casing are provided two lateral running `rollers or wheels d. Now` according to the invention there is provided behind the front` roller c a sliding bolt or locking bar e, which is displacet able in the longitudinal direction of the vacuum t cleaner casing in a support f screwedto the latter, and is braked or held fast in its end positions 40 by aspring blade g. "The drawing shows the sliding bar inits operative end position. Its inoperative position, at the other end of its travel, is

l 'shown' in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 2. At its front end `the locking bar is bent so far down that when slid forward it cornes into frictional contact with the periphery of the roller c.` Thelocking bar is brought into lthis position when the vacuumcleaner is standing upon a step, and then prevents `the roller from turning, thereby preventing the vacuum cleaner from rolling downstairs, whereas in its normal position at the other end of its travel, for working upon a level iioor,` itpermits the `vacuum cleaner to move without hindrance; y In order to ensure that the roller cannotescape from theaction of the locking bar by swinging sideways,rlateral `lugs h are. provided at the in the accompanyfront end of the bar, which engage round the periphery of the roller.

What I claim is:-

l. In a portable vacuum cleaner, a casing, wheels on which the casing rests and moves, and a` locking bar slidably supported on the under side of the casing and capable of being moved at will into and out of a position in which it engages one of the wheels and prevents it from revolving. t

2. In a portable vacuum cleaner, a casing,- wheels on which the casing rests and moves, one of the wheels being osoillatable about a vertical axis, a locking bar slidably supported on the under side of the casing, and lateral lugs at one end of the locking bar,v the locking bar being capable of being moved at will into and out of a position in which it brakes the oscillatable wheel and the lugs engage round the periphery of thewheel and prevent it from swinging towards either side.

3.,In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, wheels on which the casing rests and moves, one of the wheels swivelling about a vertical axis located in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the casing, longitudinal guiding means on the under side of the casing in the same vertical plane, and a locking bar slidable in the said guiding means `with suilicient friction to hold it fast in any position into which it is adjusted, the locking bar being adapted in one position to engage with and brake the swivelling wheel.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, wheels on which the-casing rests and moves, one of the wheels swivelling about a vertical axis located in the central longitudinal plane of the casing, longitudinal guiding means on the under side of the casing in the same vertical plane, a locking bar slidable in the said guiding means, and resilient means for pressing the locking bar into engagement with its guiding means and thereby holding it `fast by friction in any position into` which it is adjusted, the locking bar being adapted in one position to engage with and brake the swivelling wheel.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, wheels on which the casing rests and moves, one of the wheels `swivelling about a vertical axis, longitudinal guiding means on the under side of the casing in a vertical plane containing the said vertical swivelling axis, a locking bar slidable in the said guiding means, the locking bar being adapted in one position to engage with and brake the swivelling wheel, and lateral lugs `on the locking bar adapted to prevent `the wheel swivelling when it is braked.

ERNST FABER. 

